Fin and rudder of airships



L. DURR FIN AND RUDDER OF AIRSHIPS Filed Nov. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l hr 427m 'ec. 6, 1927. L. DURR mu AND RUDDER OF AIRSHIPS Filed Nov. 12,. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet v2 ZZken/OP Patented Dec. 6, 1 927 UNITED STATES 1,651,755 PATENT oFrlcs.

L'UDWIG DIIRR, OF BODENSEE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO LUFTSCHIFFBAU ZEPPELIN GESELLSCHAFT MIT IBESGHRKNKTER HAFTUNG, OF FRIEDRIGH SHAFEN, IBOIDEN- SEE, GERMANY.

FIN AND RUDDER OF AIRSHIPS.

Application filed November 12, 1925, serial m. 68,488, and in GermanyNovember 29, 1924. I

My invention relates to fins and rudders of airships. It has become usual to arrange the fins I cross-wise at the stern of the ship' and to place the rudders and elevators behind the fins so that in their, middle position the surfaces of rudder's and elevators form continuations of the corresponding fin surfaces. Thus there are usually two vertical rudders, 10 one-above and one below the .rear hull por tion. Generally these rudders are operated together, each when turned at an angle causing a cross pressure on the ships stern.

Because'of the ship having cars situated underneath its. hull or body the lower, rudder will have less efliciency than the upper one, both having the same surface and usually the same shape. This causes a very undesirable eflect on the ships horizontal course, as the resistance from the rudder above the hull or body will difl'er from the resistance of the lower rudder, and this will' have a rolling effect on the ship as a whole.

According to my invention-I am doing away with these drawbacks by horizontally, extending the surface of the lower rudder,

' so that it is wider than the upper one. I

Furthermore it may be advisable to also in crease the area of the lower rudder by an adequate change in its shape. Also in accordance with my invention it may be useful to provide means for always giving the lower rudder a wider angle of deviation than the upper rudder has at the same time.

This for example ay be attained by making the operating le ersof the lower rudder shorter than those of the upper rudder While the control wires of both rudders are moved over equal distances.

Having given a general. description of my invention I now want to point it out more in detail referring to the drawings giving an example embodying my invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an airship, partly broken up, showing only the bow and the stern portions.

Fig. 2 is the corresponding top view represented in like manner as Fig. 1.

Body or hull 1 in the stern has horizon-' tal fins 2 with elevators 3 and vertical fins 4 with rudders 5 and 6. Underneath the how a control car 7 is situated. From the upper rudder 5-control wires 8 are running to the gear 9, situated in or above control cabin 7 in which there is thehand wheel 13. Lower rudder 6 is connected to the same operating mechanism 9 by means of control .wires 10. These wires 10 operate rudder 6 by turning the short-legged lever 11 which is in rigid connection with rudder 6. Rudder 5 is rigidly connected with long-legged lever 12 which is turned by wires 8. Thus for example one turn of hand wheel 13 will cause a wider angle of devlation Wltll lower rudder 6 than with upper rudder 5.

I do not want to limit myself to the example described or shown in the drawings as many variations will occur to skilled in the art.

What I claim is: 1. A lighter than air airship comprising a gas inflated hull; .a substantially vertical those 7 rudder situated above said hull; and a sub-. 7

stantially .vertical rudder situated below said hull; said lower rudder having a'longer gorlzontal, extension than 'said upper rudhter than air airship comprising a gas i ated hull; anup or and a lower vertical finat the stern oi said hull; two rudders, each forming the continuation of one of said fins, respectively, the lowerv -one of said rudders having a larger area than said upper rudder.

. 3. A lighter than air airship comprising a gas inflated hull; a rudder situated above said hull; a rudder situated below said hull; and means for operating said two rudders; saidmeans being adapted. at the same time to cause said lower rudder to have a' wider angle of deviation than said upper rudder.

4. An airship comprising a gas inflated hull; a substantially. vertical. rudder situated above said hull; and a substantially vertical rudder situated; below said hull; said lower rudder having bothv a longer horizontal ex'tension and a larger area than said upper rudder.

5. An airship comprising a gas inflated hull; a rudder situated above said hull; a rudder situated below said hull; said lower rudder having a longer horizontal extension than said upper rudder; and means for op- 105 erating said two rudders; said means being adapted at the same time to cause said lowsaid upper rudder; and meansfor operating er rudder to have a wider angle of deviation Said two rudders; said means being adapted than said upper rudder. atthe sametinie to cause said lower rudder 10 6. A lighter than air airship comprising to have a Wider angle of deviation than said 5 a gas inflated hull; a rudder situated above upper rudder.

said hull; a rudder situated below said hull; said lower rudder having a larger area than DR. LUDWIG DURR. 

